How Proctorio Detects Browser Extensions
Proctorio runs as a Chrome extension. To prevent students from running other extensions that interfere or help cheat, it enumerates installed extensions and either blocks or flags suspicious ones.
Chrome's management API gives extensions a way to enumerate other extensions. Proctorio uses this to find known cheating helpers (uBlock Origin in some configs, ChatGPT side panels, AI tutors). The blocklist is curated and updated. If a flagged extension is enabled, Proctorio blocks the exam launch with a "Disable conflicting extensions" message. The LDBypass overlay is fundamentally different: it is a separate macOS application, not a Chrome extension. It does not appear in Chrome's extension list because it is not in Chrome. Proctorio cannot enumerate macOS apps from inside its extension sandbox.
Key points
- Proctorio uses chrome.management API to list other extensions.
- Internal blocklist matches known cheat helpers.
- LDBypass is a macOS app, not a Chrome extension.
- Apps outside Chrome are invisible to Chrome.management.
- The overlay's screen-capture invisibility is a separate, deeper mechanism.
Common questions
Can I just install ChatGPT as a Chrome extension instead?
You can, but Proctorio probably blocks it. The LDBypass approach (separate Mac app + window privacy) is what avoids the extension-list scan.
Does Proctorio detect Safari extensions?
It runs in Chrome, so it cannot read Safari's extension list directly. Safari is irrelevant when Proctorio is enforced.
What about Firefox extensions?
Same answer - Proctorio is a Chrome ext and only sees Chrome.